Longtime assistant chief Mike Douglas has been chosen as the next leader of the Waterloo Police Department, succeeding Jim Trantham, who is retiring at the end of the month.

Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith made the appointment official during Monday’s city council meeting at City Hall. Douglas will step in as chief on Dec. 1.

Mike Douglas

“He’s ready to lead,” Smith said. “He’ll have some big shoes to fill, because Jim was very well-liked and involved with the community.”

In September, Trantham announced his retirement effective Nov. 30, following a long career in law enforcement — including nearly 10 years as Waterloo’s chief.

Douglas, 53, is a lifelong Waterloo resident, graduating from Waterloo High School in 1981.

He joined the Navy shortly after graduation, and later joined the Army Reserves and then the Illinois Air National Guard. He served in active duty from October 2001 through July 2003 and has been deployed multiple times, the latest time being in 2012 to Afghanistan.

Douglas, who carries the military rank of master sergeant, currently serves as Command Chief of the 126th Air Refueling Wing at  Scott Air Force Base…>>>

Read the rest of this story in the Nov. 23 issue of the Republic-Times. If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here, or pick up a copy at any of these locations.